Chaeles steel



* UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. i

CHARLES STEEL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y. Y

ASH-SIFTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 254,720, dated March'7, 1882.

' Application filed April 21, 1310.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES STEEL, of NewYork city, in the State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements Relating to Ash-Sifters, of which the following is aspecification.

My improved sifter is of a class adapted for household use, in which thecinders and ashes are introduced through a removable door in ahorizontal cylinder composed of bars adapted to serve as a sifter, andare agitated by the revolution of the cylinder to shake out the ashes,while the whole is inclosed in a tight case. The ashes fall into areceptacle in the lower part, and are removed by drawing out thereceptacle laterally.

The improvements are in the details tending to promote convenience andutility. I provide for holding thecylinder firmly in the position toreceive the charge by means of apawl, which engages in attachment to thecrank. I provide a removable lining or interior drawer, which, with theother, constitutes in fact two Vessels, which may be used for thereception of the ashes and oinders, respectively; and I provide againstdropping any of the ashes or cinders on the edges or outside of thedrawer.

The accompanying drawings form part of this specification. V

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus, showing the drawer andreceiver partly removed. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section. Fig. 3 isa plan with the cover removed. Fig. 4 is a side view of, and Fig. 5 aplan of, the removable segmental portion.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

A is a rectangular case,'A a cover, and A an inner ledge having a widthgreater than the thickness of the sides of the drawer.

A is the main drawer, which contains a removable lining, afi, which maybe of sheet metal.

B is a revolving siftingcylinder turning on a shaft, B B operated by acrank, B

0 is a curved open-work door, covering a liberal opening in one side, toreceive the material and to discharge the cinders after the ashes aresifted out.

On the inner face of the crank B is an eye, b

in such position that the door 0 is uppermost to receive the material.This holds the cylinder very firmly while the material is beingintroduced.

The drawer A is of such size that its upper edge is protected by theledge A The under face, a of the ledge is level, and should fittolerably close to the upper edge of the drawer. The ledge A may becarried still farther outward on all sides, as it is shown on. the frontside, or that on which the drawer is removed. It performs the importantfunction of preventing the dirt from falling between the inner pan orlining, a, and the drawer A or exterior to both. It insures that thematerial on being sifted down shall be guided within the proper vessel.After slowly rotating the crank, and thus shifting the charge for aproper time, and waiting a moment to allow the principal dust to settle,the drawer A and its contents are pulled out. Now, the inner lining, a,may be lifted out, by the aid of suitable handles or otherwise, with thefine ashes, and on returning the drawer A after having removed the door0, the reversion of the sifting-cylinder dumps the cinders into the maindrawer, which, on removing again and properly emptying both .vessels,the whole may be restored to its original condition, ready for the nextuse.

The sifting-cylinder B is composed of two end pieces, B, connected byiron rods 1) b b, and held together by braces B The curved door 0 isformed of two end pieces,

0 connected by cross-bars. These end pieces" are hollowed at one end, soas to fit over the rod b and cut away on their under sides at the other,so as to rest upon the rod b.

The fastening device 0 Fig. 4, is composed of a plate, 0 Figs.2 and 5,secured to the contiguous cross-bars. A shaft, 0, turns in this plate.It is provided at its upper end with a button, 0 for turning it, and atthe other end with aprojection, c, which fits under the rod 12 when theshaft is turned and secures the door in position.

It will be seen that the door can be entirely removed or only opened toany required limit. After being removed it can easily be replaced, andby turning the button 0 is secured again.

Modifications may be made in the details. I have shown thecylinderendsBasheld firmly at the proper distance apart by tubularbraces B, which are placed atintervals to inclose cer tain of the rodsb,- but this is not essential.

I attach much importance to the ofi'set or shoulder a and to the mannerin which the drawer A with its removable lining a applies under it, sothat it is protected by it from becoming clogged with the accumulationof ashes and oinders between these vessels or outside of both.

I claim as my invention- In an ash-Sifter having a closed box andremovable drawer, the rotary sifter described,

consisting of the main body B b and removable door 0, having the curvedside pieces, 0

bars I), turn-button o, and handle 0 constructed [5 and arrangedsubstantiallyas set forth,whereby the door may be entirely removed ormerely opened as a hinge-door, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my 20

